U.S. patent application number 15/998521 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-07 for image processing device, image processing system, and program.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONICA MINOLTA, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KONICA MINOLTA, INC.. Invention is credited to Tatsuya Kitaguchi.
Application Number | 20190075207 15/998521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65518363 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190075207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kitaguchi; Tatsuya |
March 7, 2019 |
Image processing device, image processing system, and program
Abstract
An image processing device capable of assigning a basic function
and a server function to hardware resources and operating the basic
function and the server function, includes: a hardware processor
that: detects occurrence of a failure related to the basic function
or transition to a power saving mode; releases a specific hardware
resource corresponding to a function that has become inoperable due
to the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power saving
mode, of the basic function assigned to the hardware resources, in
a case where the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a
power saving mode has been detected by the hardware processor; and
additionally assigns the server function to the specific hardware
resource released by the hardware processor, of the hardware
resources, to operate the server function.
Inventors: |
Kitaguchi; Tatsuya;
(Toyokawa-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KONICA MINOLTA, INC. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
65518363 |
Appl. No.: |
15/998521 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/0009 20130101;
H04N 1/00084 20130101; H04N 1/00037 20130101; H04N 1/00244
20130101; H04N 1/00079 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 6, 2017 |
JP |
2017-171101 |
Claims
1. An image processing device capable of assigning a basic function
and a server function to hardware resources and operating the basic
function and the server function, the image processing device
comprising: a hardware processor that: detects occurrence of a
failure related to the basic function or transition to a power
saving mode; releases a specific hardware resource corresponding to
a function that has become inoperable due to the occurrence of a
failure or the transition to a power saving mode, of the basic
function assigned to the hardware resources, in a case where the
occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power saving mode
has been detected by the hardware processor; and additionally
assigns the server function to the specific hardware resource
released by the hardware processor, of the hardware resources, to
operate the server function.
2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware processor notifies another first image processing device
connected via a network and using the server function that the
server function has been expanded, with the additional assignment
of the server function to the specific hardware resource.
3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware processor releases, in a case where restoration from the
failure or the power saving mode has been detected by the hardware
processor, the server function additionally assigned to the
specific hardware resource, and reassigns the function that has
become operable due to the restoration from the failure or the
power saving mode to the specific hardware resource.
4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware processor: predicts a restoration time required for
restoration from the failure or the power saving mode in the case
where the occurrence of the failure related to the basic function
or the transition to the power saving mode has been detected by the
hardware processor; predicts a processing time in the server
function in the state where the server function is additionally
assigned to the specific hardware resource by the hardware
processor; and receives, when receiving a processing request to the
server function, the processing request on a condition that the
processing time is shorter than the restoration time required in
the state where the server function is additionally assigned to the
specific hardware resource by the hardware processor.
5. The image processing device according to claim 4, wherein the
hardware processor predicts the restoration time required for
restoration from the failure by reference to a table in which the
restoration time required is defined in advance for each type of
failure.
6. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
basic function includes a print function, the hardware processor
detects toner empty, paper jam, or sheet empty, as a failure
related to the print function, and in a case where the failure
related to the print function has been detected by the hardware
processor, the hardware processor releases the print function
assigned to the hardware resource.
7. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
basic function includes a scan function, the hardware processor
detects paper jam of a document, as a failure related to the scan
function, and in a case where the failure related to the scan
function has been detected by the hardware processor, the hardware
processor releases the scan function assigned to the hardware
resource.
8. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware resource includes a memory, the hardware processor
releases a memory area secured for the function that has become
inoperable due to the occurrence of a failure or the transition to
a power saving mode, and the hardware processor expands information
to be used by the server function to the memory area.
9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware resource includes a CPU, the hardware processor releases
processing performed in the CPU for the function that has become
inoperable due to the occurrence of a failure or the transition to
a power saving mode, and the hardware processor makes occupancy of
processing by the server function in the CPU high.
10. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
server function is an authentication function to perform
authentication on the basis of an authentication request from an
outside.
11. The image processing device according to claim 1, forming a
server device group with another second image processing device
having the server function, wherein the hardware processor:
determines an image processing device serving as a priority access
destination from the server device group in a case of having
received a notification notifying that the server function has been
expanded from the other second image processing device; and
instructs an image processing device serving as a client device
using the server function to set the image processing device
serving as the priority access destination as a transmission source
of a processing request.
12. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
server function includes a plurality of functions, and when the
hardware processor additionally assigns the server function to the
specific hardware resource after receiving a notification notifying
that the server function has been expanded from another image
processing device, the hardware processor assigns a function
different from the function expanded in the other image processing
device.
13. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the
server function is a function in which one of a plurality of image
processing devices serves as a representative device and collects
log information from the other image processing devices and
transmits the log information to a predetermined cloud server, and
when the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power
saving mode has been detected by the hardware processor and the
specific hardware resource has been released by the hardware
processor, the hardware processor assigns the function to collect
the log information from the other image processing devices and
transmit the log information to the cloud server as the
representative device to the specific hardware resource.
14. An image processing system including a server device group
including a plurality of image processing devices operated as
server devices having a server function, and a client device that
is an image processing device that accesses at least one image
processing device of the server device group and uses the server
function, wherein the server device includes hardware resources to
which a basic function and a server function are assigned and in
which the basic function and the server function are operable, and
a hardware processor that: detects occurrence of a failure related
to the basic function or transition to a power saving mode;
releases a specific hardware resource corresponding to a function
that has become inoperable due to the occurrence of a failure or
the transition to a power saving mode, of the basic function
assigned to the hardware resources, in a case where the occurrence
of a failure or the transition to a power saving mode has been
detected by the hardware processor; and additionally assigns the
server function to the specific hardware resource released by the
hardware processor, of the hardware resources, and transmits a
notification notifying that the server function has been expanded
to the client device, and the client device accesses a server
device with the expanded server function on the basis of the
notification notifying that the server function has been
expanded.
15. The image processing system according to claim 14, wherein,
when one server device of the server device group is operated as a
representative device, the hardware processor notifies the
representative device that the server function has been expanded,
and performs notification to the client device via the
representative device.
16. The image processing system according to claim 14, wherein, in
a case where a notification notifying that the server function has
been expanded is received from two or more server devices of the
server device group, the client device accesses a server device
with a longest restoration time required for restoration from the
failure or the power saving mode, of the two or more server
devices.
17. A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program executed in an image processing device capable of assigning
a basic function and a server function to hardware resources and
operating the basic function and the server function, the program
causing the image processing device to execute: detecting
occurrence of a failure related to the basic function or transition
to a power saving mode; releasing a specific hardware resource
corresponding to a function that has become inoperable due to the
occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power saving mode,
of the basic function assigned to the hardware resources, in a case
where the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power
saving mode has been detected in the detecting; and additionally
assigning the server function to the specific hardware resource
released in the releasing, of the hardware resources, to operate
the server function.
18. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the assigning notifies
another first image processing device connected via a network and
using the server function that the server function has been
expanded, with the additional assignment of the server function to
the specific hardware resource.
19. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, the program causing the image
processing device to further execute: releasing, in a case where
restoration from the failure or the power saving mode has been
detected in the detecting, the server function additionally
assigned to the specific hardware resource, and reassigning the
function that has become operable due to the restoration from the
failure or the power saving mode to the specific hardware
resource.
20. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, the program causing the image
processing device to further execute: predicting a restoration time
required for restoration from the failure or the power saving mode
in the case where the occurrence of the failure related to the
basic function or the transition to the power saving mode has been
detected in the detecting; predicting a processing time in the
server function in the state where the server function is
additionally assigned to the specific hardware resource in the
assigning; and receiving, when receiving a processing request to
the server function, the processing request on a condition that the
processing time is shorter than the restoration time required in
the state where the server function is additionally assigned to the
specific hardware resource in the assigning.
21. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 20, wherein the predicting predicts the
restoration time required for restoration from the failure by
reference to a table in which the restoration time required is
defined in advance for each type of failure.
22. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the basic function includes
a print function, the detecting detects toner empty, paper jam, or
sheet empty, as a failure related to the print function, and in a
case where the failure related to the print function has been
detected in the detecting, the releasing releases the print
function assigned to the hardware resource.
23. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the basic function includes
a scan function, the detecting detects paper jam of a document, as
a failure related to the scan function, and in a case where the
failure related to the scan function has been detected in the
detecting, the releasing releases the scan function assigned to the
hardware resource.
24. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the hardware resource
includes a memory, the releasing releases a memory area secured for
the function that has become inoperable due to the occurrence of a
failure or the transition to a power saving mode, and the assigning
expands information to be used by the server function to the memory
area.
25. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the hardware resource
includes a CPU, the releasing releases processing performed in the
CPU for the function that has become inoperable due to the
occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power saving mode,
and the assigning makes occupancy of processing by the server
function in the CPU high.
26. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the server function is an
authentication function to perform authentication on the basis of
an authentication request from an outside.
27. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, the program causing the image
processing device to further execute: determining, in a case of
having received a notification notifying that a server function has
been expanded from another image processing device, a priority
access destination from a plurality of image processing devices
including the other image processing device and the image
processing device; and instructing, in a case of having received a
processing request from an outside, the priority access destination
determined in the determining as a transmission source of the
processing request.
28. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, wherein the server function includes
a plurality of functions, and when the assigning additionally
assigns the server function to the hardware resource after
receiving a notification notifying that the server function has
been expanded from another image processing device, the assigning
assigns a function different from the function expanded in the
other image processing device.
29. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable
program according to claim 17, the server function is a function in
which one of a plurality of image processing devices serves as a
representative device and collects log information from the other
image processing devices and transmits the log information to a
predetermined cloud server, and when the occurrence of a failure or
the transition to a power saving mode has been detected in the
detecting and the hardware resource has been released in the
releasing, the assigning assigns the function to collect the log
information from the other image processing devices and transmit
the log information to the cloud server as the representative
device to the hardware resource.
Description
[0001] The entire disclosure of Japanese patent Application No.
2017-171101, filed on Sep. 6, 2017, is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
Technological Field
[0002] The present invention relates to an image processing device,
an image processing system, and a program.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] In recent years, image processing devices such as
multifunction peripherals (MFP) have been provided with server
functions in addition to basic functions such as a print function
and a scan function. As long as at least one image processing
device among a plurality of image processing devices connected to a
network such as a local area network (LAN) is equipped with the
server functions, another image processing device can use a service
provided by the server function by accessing the image processing
device equipped with the server functions via the network.
[0004] By the way, a failure such as a paper jam may occur in the
image processing device during execution of a job related to the
basic function such as the print function or the scan function.
When the failure occurs in the image processing device, the print
function, the scan function, and the like become unavailable due to
the failure. The same applies to the image processing device
equipped with the server functions.
[0005] Meanwhile, the image processing device equipped with the
server functions can continue to provide services by the server
functions even when a failure has occurred in the basic function.
That is, when a failure occurs in the basic function in the image
processing device equipped with the server functions, the image
processing device operates as a dedicated server device until the
failure is resolved. However, there is a problem that, even when
the image processing device operates as a dedicated server device,
the basic function in which a failure has occurred continues to
occupy hardware resources of the image processing device, and thus
the processing efficiency of the server functions cannot be
improved.
[0006] Further, a conventional image processing device is known,
which detects a failure that has occurred in each function unit,
determines an unexecutable function mode, and notifies a management
device of the unexecutable function mode, in order to decrease a
waiting time of a job (for example, JP 2011-192005 A). According to
this conventional technology, the management device updates a
function mode table when acquiring the unexecutable function mode.
At this time, the management device raises the priority order of
executable functional modes in the image processing device in which
the failure has occurred, and lowers the priority order of the
function modes in the other normally operating image processing
devices. The management device assigns a job on the basis of the
priority orders of the image processing devices by reference to the
function mode table when receiving the job. According to such a
conventional technology, when a failure occurs in a specific
function in one image processing device, of a plurality of image
processing devices, the one image processing device becomes able to
preferentially execute jobs related to functions other than the
specific function in which the failure has occurred to the other
image processing devices.
[0007] In the conventional technology in JP 2011-192005 A, in the
case where a failure has occurred in a specific function in one
image processing device, of the plurality of image processing
devices, jobs related to functions in which no failure has occurred
flock into the one image processing device. However, in the above
conventional technology, although the image processing device in
which a failure has occurred preferentially executes the jobs
related to the functions in which no failure has occurred, the
image processing device can exhibit only the processing efficiency
equivalent to the normal time when executing the jobs in which no
failure has occurred. Therefore, even when the jobs related to the
functions in which no failure has occurred are preferentially
assigned in a state where a failure has occurred in the specific
function, the image processing device cannot more efficiently
process the jobs than the normal time.
[0008] Therefore, even if the above-described conventional
technology is applied, the processing efficiency of the server
functions cannot be improved in the case where a failure has
occurred in the basic function in the image processing device
equipped with the basic functions and the server functions.
SUMMARY
[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the
above conventional problems, and an objective is to provide an
image processing device, an image processing system, and a program,
which enable improvement of the processing efficiency of server
functions in a case where a failure or the like has occurred in a
basic function.
[0010] To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect
of the present invention, there is provided an image processing
device capable of assigning a basic function and a server function
to hardware resources and operating the basic function and the
server function, and the image processing device reflecting one
aspect of the present invention comprises: a hardware processor
that: detects occurrence of a failure related to the basic function
or transition to a power saving mode; releases a specific hardware
resource corresponding to a function that has become inoperable due
to the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power saving
mode, of the basic function assigned to the hardware resources, in
a case where the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a
power saving mode has been detected by the hardware processor, and
additionally assigns the server function to the specific hardware
resource released by the hardware processor, of the hardware
resources, to operate the server function.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The advantages and features provided by one or more
embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended
drawings winch are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not intended as a definition of the limits of the present
invention:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of
an image processing system;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating access destinations of
client devices;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
hardware configuration of an image processing device common to a
server device and a client device;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of
a control unit of a server device;
[0016] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of
expansion of a server function in the case where a failure has
occurred in a print function;
[0017] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of
expansion of a server function in the case where a failure has
occurred in a scan function:
[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in the case where a failure has occurred in a server
device;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an
image processing device provides a service by a server function on
behalf of other server devices.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of prediction
information;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in the case where a failure has occurred in a plurality of
server devices;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure performed in a server device:
[0023] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure performed in a client device;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration concept of
an image processing system according to a second embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of
a control unit in the second embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of access
destination discrimination information;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in the image processing system of the second
embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure performed in an image processing device as a
representative device:
[0029] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in an image processing system of a third embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure in a server device:
[0031] FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing an example of a server
function related to a log collection function;
[0032] FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing an operation example in
the case where a representative device is switched; and
[0033] FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure in a server device according to a fourth
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Hereinafter, one or more favorable embodiments of the
present invention will be described in detail with reference to the
drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments. Note that members common to the embodiments
to be described below are denoted by the same reference numerals,
and overlapping description about the members is omitted.
First Embodiment
[0035] First, a first embodiment that is a basic embodiment of the
present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram
illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system
1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The
image processing system 1 has a configuration in which a plurality
of image processing devices 2 is connected to a network 5 such as a
local area network (LAN. The image processing device 2 is
constituted by, for example, an MFP, and has basic functions such
as a print function, a scan function, and a FAX function. FIG. 1
illustrates a case where twelve image processing devices 2a to 2m
are connected to the network 5 as an example. However, the number
of the image processing devices 2 is not limited thereto. A
personal computer (PC) (not illustrated) and the like are connected
to the network 5, in addition to the plurality of image processing
devices 2.
[0036] Each of the image processing devices 2a to 2m can execute
jobs specified by a user by operating the basic functions. For
example, the image processing devices 2a to 2n can execute a copy
job, a scan job, a print job, a FAX job, and the like.
[0037] The three image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c, of the
plurality of image processing devices 2a to 2m, are equipped with
server functions in addition to the basic functions. Tim server
function is a function to receive accesses from other image
processing devices 2d to 2m via the network 5 and provide services
according to requests to the other image processing devices 2d to
2m. Therefore, the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c
respectively function as server devices 3 (also referred to as
parent devices) and form a server device group in the image
processing system 1.
[0038] The server functions in the image processing devices 2a, 2b,
and 2c include various functions. For example, in the present
embodiment, the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c are
equipped with, as the server functions, an authentication function
to authenticate a user, an optical character recognition (OCR)
function to perform character recognition processing for image data
generated by the scan function to generate text data, a translation
function to convert text data of a predetermined language into text
data of another language, a log collection function to collect log
information such as a job execution history from another image
processing device 2, and other functions.
[0039] On the other hand, the other image processing devices 2d to
2m, which do not have the server functions or which have the server
functions but stop the server functions and do not function as
servers, function as client devices 4 (also referred to as child
devices) and form a client device group in the image processing
system 1. The client device 4 can use the service provided by the
server function by accessing any one of the plurality of server
devices 3 via the network 5. For example, when the image processing
device 2d performs user authentication, the image processing device
2d accesses the image processing device 2a and transmits an
authentication request, thereby to perform the user authentication
using the authentication function of the image processing device
2a.
[0040] In the above-described image processing system 1, when each
of the plurality of client devices 4 uses a service provided by the
server device 3, the server device 3 that is an access destination
is predetermined in advance. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the
access destination when the client device 4 accesses the server
device 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the image processing
devices 2d, 2e, and 2f use the server functions, the image
processing devices 2d, 2e, and 2f are determined in advance to
access the image processing device 2a and use the server functions
in the image processing device 2a. Further, when the image
processing devices 2f, 2h, and 2i use the server functions, the
image processing devices 2f, 2h, and 2i are determined in advance
to access the image processing device 2b and use the server
functions in the image processing device 2b. Further, when the
image processing devices 2j, 2k, and 2m use the server functions,
the image processing devices 2j, 2k, and 2m are determined in
advance to access the image processing device 2c and use the server
functions in the image processing device 2c. Therefore, the three
server devices 3 substantially evenly share the plurality of client
devices 4 and provide services by the server functions.
[0041] By the way, the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c that
function as the server devices 3 execute a copy job, a scan job, a
print job, a FAX job, and the like, similarly to the client device
4. Therefore, the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c that
function as the server devices 3 sometimes detect occurrence of a
failure such as a paper jam during execution of a job. For example,
when a paper jam occurs in a sheet conveyance path during execution
of the print job in the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c,
the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c suspend the execution
of the print job. Then, the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c
stop the print function until the paper jam is resolved.
[0042] Further, the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c that
function as the server devices 3 transition to a power saving mode
when a non-use state by the user continues for a predetermined time
or more, similarly to the client device 4. When transitioning the
power mode to the power saving mode, the image processing devices
2a, 2b, and 2c stop power supply to a fixer for fixing a toner
image on a print sheet, and the like. Then, the image processing
devices 2a, 2b, and 2c stop the print function until the mode is
restored from the power saving mode.
[0043] The image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c that function as
the server devices 3 do not need to perform processing based on the
print function in a state where the print function is stopped.
Further, the same applies to the case where a basic function other
than the print function is stopped, the image processing devices
2a, 2b, and 2c do not need to perform processing based on the
stopped basic function. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in
the image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c that function as the
server devices 3, the basic function that has become inoperable due
to the occurrence of a failure or the transition to the power
saving mode is released from a hardware resource, and the server
function is additionally operated in the released portion. That is,
the server device 3 releases a specific hardware resource
corresponding to the function that has become inoperable due to the
occurrence of a failure or the transition to the power saving mode,
of the hardware resources in which the basic functions and the
server functions are operated, and additionally assigns the server
function to the released specific hardware resource, thereby to
expand the server function. With the expansion, the processing
efficiency of the server function can be improved in the server
device 3 in which the basic function has become inoperable due to
the occurrence of a failure or the transition to the power saving
mode. When the processing efficiency of the server function is
improved, the server device 3 notifies the client devices 4 that
the processing efficiency of the server function has been improved.
Thereby, the client devices 4 can change the access destination of
when using the server function from the predetermined server device
3 to the server device 3 with the improved processing efficiency.
As a result, in the image processing system 1, the processing
efficiency when the client devices 4 use the server function can be
improved. Hereinafter, such image processing system 1 will be
described in more detail.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
hardware configuration of the image processing device 2 common to
the server device 3 and the client device 4. The image processing
device 2 includes a control unit 10, a storage 11, an operation
panel 12, a communication interface 13, a power manager 14, a
printer 15, a scanner 16, and a FAX unit 17.
[0045] The control unit 10 is a unit for controlling the operation
of each part, and includes, for example, a CPU and a memory. In the
case where the image processing device 2 is the client device 4,
the control unit 10 assigns the basic functions in advance to the
hardware resources including the CPU and the memory, and operates
only the basic functions. Further, in the case where the image
processing device 2 is the server device 3, the control unit 10
assigns the basic functions and the server functions in advance to
the hardware resources including the CPU and the memory, and
simultaneously operates both the basic functions and the server
functions.
[0046] The storage 11 is used to store various types of
information, and is configured by, for example, a hard disk drive
(HDD). The storage 11 stores, for example, a program 7 executed by
the CPU of the control unit 10. Further, in the case where the
image processing device 2 functions as the server device 3, the
storage 11 stores authentication data 8 and prediction information
9 in advance. The authentication data 8 is data for performing user
authentication, and is data in which user information such as a
user ID and a password is registered in advance. The prediction
information 9 is information for predicting a restoration time
required for restoration in the case where a failure has occurred
or the mode is transitioned to the power saving mode in the server
device 3.
[0047] The operation panel 12 serves as a user interface when the
user uses the image processing device 2, and includes a display 12a
and an operator 12b. The display 12a is configured by, for example,
a color liquid crystal display, and displays various operation
screens to the user. The operator 12b is configured by, for
example, a touch panel sensor arranged on a screen of the display
12a, and is used to receive an operation by the user.
[0048] The communication interface 13 is used to connect the image
processing device 2 to the network 5. The image processing device 2
communicates with another image processing device 2 via the
communication interface 13.
[0049] The power manager 14 controls power supply to the image
processing device 2. For example, in the case where the operation
on the operation panel 12 is not performed for a predetermined time
or longer, the power manager 14 transitions the power mode of the
image processing device 2 to the power saving mode. Further, a
state where no job is executed continues for a predetermined time
or longer in the image processing devices 2, the power manager 14
transitions the power mode to the power saving mode. Further, when
detecting an operation by the user to the operation panel 12 or
receiving a job via the communication interface 13 in a state where
the power manager 14 is transitioning the power mode to the power
saving mode, the power manager 14 cancels the power saving mode to
restore the power mode to a normal power supply state.
[0050] The printer 15 is operated on the basis of a command from
the control unit 10 in the case where a print job is executed in
the image processing device 2. The printer 15 conveys a print sheet
along a predetermined sheet conveyance path, transfers a toner
image when the print sheet passes through a predetermined position
and fixes the print sheet to which a toner image has been
transferred at the fixer to perform image formation. Such a printer
15 includes a sensor 18. The sensor 18 is a sensor for detecting
occurrence of a failure during execution of the print job. For
example, the sensor 18 detects various kinds of failures such as a
paper jam in the sheet conveyance path, toner empty (out of toner),
and sheet empty.
[0051] The scanner 16 is operated on the basis of a command from
the control unit 10 in the case where a scan job is executed in the
image processing device 2. The scanner 16 conveys documents set by
the user one by one and optically reads an image when the document
passes through a predetermined reading position to generate image
data. Such a scanner 16 includes a sensor 19. The sensor 19 is a
sensor for detecting occurrence of a failure during execution of
the scan job. For example, the sensor 19 detects a paper jam of the
document in a document conveyance path as a failure.
[0052] The FAX unit 17 transmits and receives FAX data via a public
telephone network (not illustrated). For example, when receiving
FAX data from an outside, the FAX unit 17 outputs the FAX data to
the printer 15 to perform a print output. Therefore, even when
receiving the FAX data, the image processing device 2 sometimes
detects a failure such as a paper jam in the sheet conveyance path,
toner empty, or a sheet empty.
[0053] Next, a configuration example of the control unit 10 in the
image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c that function as the server
devices 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a
configuration example of the control unit 10 of the server device
3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 10 of the server
device 3 includes a controller 20, a plurality of CPUs 21a, 21b,
21c, and 21d, and a memory 22. The controller 20 is used to control
hardware resources including the CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d and
the memory 22. For example, the controller 20 includes a CPU
different from the CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d and a memory
different from the memory 22, and executes a part of the
above-described program 7 (a program for controlling the hardware
resources) to control assigned states of the basic functions and
the server functions in the CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d and the
memory 22. However, the embodiment is not limited to the example.
For example, the controller 20 may be operated in a part of the
CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d and the memory 22. Note that the
plurality of CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d is, for example, CPUs
having the same performance.
[0054] The controller 20 respectively assigns the basic functions
and the server functions to the plurality of CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c,
and 21d at predetermined specified proportions in advance in a
normal operation state where no failure has occurred and no
transition to the power saving mode has been made in the server
device 3. Further, the controller 20 assigns the basic functions
and the server functions to a storage area 23 of the memory 22 at
predetermined specified proportions in advance in the normal
operation state where no failure has occurred and no transition to
the power saving mode has been made in the server device 3. FIG. 4
illustrates an example of the state where the basic functions and
the server functions are assigned to the plurality of CPUs 21a,
21b, 21c, and 21d and the memory 22 in the normal operation
state.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the basic functions are assigned
to the CPUs 21a and 21b in the normal operation state. More
specifically, the CPU 21a is assigned with a copy function, the
scan function, the FAX function, and a panel function for
controlling the operation panel 12, of the basic functions.
Further, the CPU 21b is assigned with the printing function, of the
basic functions. When executing a print job, conversion of image
data to be printed into image data for drawing or image processing
according to print settings are necessary and a higher load is
applied than other jobs. Therefore, the one CPU 21b is assigned to
the print function. Further, in the normal operation state, the
server functions are assigned to the CPUs 21c and 21d. For example,
as illustrated in FIG. 4, the CPU 21c is assigned with the
authentication function of the server functions, and the CPU 21d is
assigned with the OCR function, the translation function, the log
collection function, and other functions.
[0056] Further, the storage area 23 of the memory 22 is mainly
divided into four storage areas 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d, and stores
various types of information for operating the basic functions and
various types of information for operating the server functions.
For example, information regarding the basic functions and the
server functions are stored in the four storage areas 23a, 23b,
23c, and 23d, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the normal operation
state where no failure has occurred and no transition to the power
saving mode has been made in the server device 3. That is, the
storage area 23a is assigned with the copy function, the scan
function, the FAX function, and the panel function of the basic
functions, and stores information used when operating these
functions. Further, the storage area 23b is assigned with the print
function, of the basic functions, and stores information regarding
print jobs and information for operating the printer. In contrast,
the storage areas 23c and 23d are assigned with the server
functions. More specifically, the storage area 23c is assigned with
the authentication function, of the server functions, and stores
information used in the authentication function. The storage area
23d is assigned with the OCR function, the translation function,
the log collection function, and other functions, of the server
functions, and stores information used in the functions.
[0057] For example, the server device 3 reads the authentication
data 8 from the storage 11 and expands at least a part of the
authentication data 8 in advance in the storage area 23c of the
memory 22 in the normal operation state. Therefore, when receiving
the authentication request from the client device 4, the server
device 3 can perform the user authentication by reference to the
authentication data 8 previously expanded in the storage area 23c.
Note that the authentication data 8 that can be expanded in advance
in the storage area 23c may be a part of the authentication data 8
stored in the storage 11. In such a case, while the processing
efficiency is increased if the server device 3 can perform the user
authentication by reference to the authentication data 8 expanded
in advance in the storage area 23c, the processing efficiency is
slightly decreased if the server device 3 cannot perform the user
authentication by reference to the authentication data 8 expanded
in advance in the storage area 23c and needs to refer to the
authentication data 8 stored in the storage 11.
[0058] The controller 20 assigns the basic functions and the server
functions to the hardware resources and operates the hardware
resources as described above in the normal operation state. Then,
in the case where the basic function becomes inoperable due to the
occurrence of a failure such as a paper jam or the transition to
the power saving mode in the server device 3, the controller 20
detects the inoperable basic function, releases the inoperable
basic function, of the basic functions assigned to the hardware
resources, and additionally assigns the server function to the
released hardware resource. That is, the controller 20 additionally
operates the server function in the hardware resource in a state
where at least a partial of the basic functions is stopped in the
server device 3, thereby to improve the processing efficiency of
the server function.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the controller 20 according to the
present embodiment functions as a detector 31, a hardware resource
releaser 32, a server function expander 33, a restoration processor
34, a restoration predictor 35, a processing time predictor 36, and
a processing discriminator 37, as processing based on the program 7
is performed by a CPU. Details of the respective parts will be
described below.
[0060] The detector 31 detects occurrence of a failure related to
the basic functions or transition to the power saving mode. For
example, when a failure such as a paper jam, toner empty, or sheet
empty occurs in the printer 15, the sensor 18 notifies the control
unit 10 of the occurrence of the failure. Further, when a failure
such as a paper jam occurs in the scanner 16, the sensor 19
notifies the control unit 10 of the occurrence of the failure.
Furthermore, when the server device 3 transitions the power mode to
the power saving mode, the power manager 14 notifies the control
unit 10 of the transition to the power saving mode. Therefore, the
detector 31 can detect the occurrence of a failure or the
transition to the power saving mode in the server device 3 on the
basis of the notification from the sensor 18 or 19 or the power
manager 14. The detector 31 can also detect a factor of the failure
that has occurred in the server device 3 by discriminating the
notification content from the sensor 18 or 19.
[0061] The hardware resource releaser 32 is a processor that
operates when the occurrence of a failure or the transition to the
power saving mode is detected by the detector 31, and releases the
function that has become inoperable due to the occurrence of a
failure or the transition to the power saving mode, of the basic
functions assigned to the hardware resources such as the CPUs 21a,
21b, 21c, and 21d and the memory 22, from the hardware resource.
For example, the hardware resource releaser 32 releases processing
that has been performed in the CPU 21a or 21b for the function that
has become inoperable due to the occurrence of a failure or the
transition to the power saving mode to reduce a use rate of the CPU
21a or 21b. In addition, the hardware resource releaser 32 releases
the storage area 23a or 23b of the memory 22, which has been
secured for the function that has become inoperable due to the
occurrence of a failure or the transition to the power saving mode,
to make the storage area be a state where another information can
be stored.
[0062] The server function expander 33 is a processor that
additionally assigns the server function to the portion released by
the hardware resource releaser 32, of the hardware resources such
as the CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d and the memory 22, and operates
the server function. For example, after the processing having been
performed in the CPU 21a or 21b is released by the hardware
resource releaser 32, the server function expander 33 causes the
CPU 21a or 21b to additionally execute processing based on the
server function, thereby to make the occupancy of the processing by
the server function high. Further, after the storage area 23a or
23b of the memory 22 is released by the hardware resource releaser
32, the server function expander 33 expands the information to be
used in the server function to the storage area 23a or 23b in an
empty state.
[0063] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of
expansion of a server function in the case where a failure has
occurred in the print function. When a failure such as a paper jam
occurs in the print function, the hardware resource releaser 32
releases the processing related to the print function that has been
performed by the CPU 21b, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. Further, the
hardware resource releaser 32 releases the storage area 23b of the
memory 22 in which the information to be used in the print function
has been stored.
[0064] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the server function
expander 33 additionally assigns the server function to the
released CPU 21b to cause the CPU 21b to execute processing related
to the server function. FIG. 5B illustrates an example in which the
CPU 21b executes the processing related to the authentication
function, of the server functions.
[0065] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the server function
expander 33 additionally assigns the server function to the
released storage area 23b, and expands the information to be used
in the server function to the storage area 23b. FIG. 5B illustrates
an example in which the authentication data 8 to be used in the
authentication function, of the server functions, is expanded to
the storage area 23b.
[0066] In this way, when a failure has occurred in the print
function, the controller 20 releases the hardware resource occupied
by the print function and assigns a part of the server functions to
the hardware resource to operate the server function, thereby to
improve the processing efficiency of the expanded server function.
For example, when the authentication function is expanded as
illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an opportunity to obtain an
authentication result by reference to the authentication data
expanded in the storage area 23b and 23c of the memory 22 is
increased, and an opportunity to refer to the authentication data 8
stored in the storage 11 can be decreased, when the user
authentication is performed in the server device 3. Therefore, the
processing efficiency in performing the user authentication in the
server device 3 can be improved.
[0067] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of
expansion of a server function in the case where a failure has
occurred in the scan function. When a failure such as a paper jam
occurs in the scan function, the hardware resource releaser 32
releases only the processing related to the scan function, of
processing related to the basic functions that has been performed
by the CPU 21a, as illustrated in FIG. 6A. Therefore, when the
failure has occurred in the scan function, only a part of the CPU
21a is released. In addition, the hardware resource releaser 32
releases only a part of the storage area 23a of the memory 22, the
part storing the information to be used in the scan function.
Therefore, the volume of hardware resources released by the
hardware resource releaser 32 is smaller when the failure has
occurred in the scan function than when the failure has occurred in
the print function.
[0068] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the server function
expander 33 additionally assigns the server function to the part of
the CPU 21a released by the hardware resource releaser 32 to cause
the CPU 21a to execute processing related to the server function.
FIG. 6B illustrates an example in which the part of the CPU 21a
executes the processing related to the authentication function, of
the server functions.
[0069] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the server function
expander 33 additionally assigns the server function to the
released part of the storage area 23a, and expands the information
to be used in the server function to the part of the storage area
23a. FIG. 6B illustrates an example in which the authentication
data 8 to be used in the authentication function, of the server
functions, is expanded to the storage area 23b.
[0070] In this way, when a failure has occurred in the scan
function, the controller 20 releases the hardware resource occupied
by the scan function and assigns a part of the server functions to
the hardware resource to operate the server function, thereby to
improve the processing efficiency of the expanded server function.
Note that, even when the failure has occurred in the scan function
and the authentication function has been expanded as illustrated in
FIGS. 6A and 6B, the degree of expansion of the server function is
smaller than when the failure has occurred in the print function.
Therefore, when a failure has occurred in the scan function, it is
difficult to improve the processing efficiency to the same extent
as when a failure occurs in the print function.
[0071] Further, when the server function expander 33 has expanded
the server function as described above, the server function
expander 33 notifies other image processing devices 2 connected to
the network 5 that the server function has been expanded. This
notification is made not only to the client devices 4 but also to
other server devices 3. With the notification, the client devices 4
can grasp that the processing efficiency of the server function has
increased in the specific server device 3, of the plurality of
server devices 3. Further, the other server device 3 can grasp that
the processing efficiency of the server function has increased in
the special server device 3.
[0072] The restoration processor 34 is a processor that functions
when a failure or restoration from the power saving mode has been
detected by the detector 31., and releases the server function from
the hardware resource of the portion to which the server function
has been additionally assigned by the server function expander 33
and assigns the basic function that has become operable due to the
restoration from the failure or the power saving mode to the
portion again to restore the portion to the original state. In the
case where the server function has been expanded to the state as
illustrated in FIG. 5B, for example, due to the occurrence of a
failure or the transition to the power saving mode, the restoration
processor 34 releases the authentication function from the CPU 21b
and releases the authentication data from the storage area 23b of
the memory 22. Thereafter, the restoration processor 34 causes the
CPU 21b to operate the print function and stores the information to
be used in the print function in the storage area 23b of the memory
22. As a result, the operation state in the control unit 10 is
returned to the operation state illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0073] Further, when performing restoration processing, the
restoration processor 34 notifies other image processing devices 2
connected to the network 5 that the basic function is to be
restored. This notification is made not only to the client devices
4 but also to other server devices 3. With the notification, the
other image processing devices 2 can grasp that the expanded state
of the server function is to be terminated.
[0074] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in the case where a failure has occurred in the server
device 3. Note that FIG. 7 illustrates a case in which a failure
occurs in the image processing device 2a that is one of the server
devices 3, as an example. When the image processing device 2a has
detected the occurrence of a failure in the basic function (process
P1), the image processing device 2a releases the hardware resource
to which the basic function has been assigned (process P2), and
additionally assigns the server function to the released hardware
resource to expand the server function (process P3). The image
processing device 2a notifies all the image processing devices 2d
to 2m as the client devices 4 that the server function has been
expanded, with the expansion of the server function (process P4).
Each client device 4 grasps that the server function has been
expanded in the image processing device 2a when receiving the
notification from the image processing device 2a. Then, each client
device 4 changes an access destination of when using the server
function expanded in the image processing device 2a (process P5).
For example, in the case where the authentication function has been
expanded in the image processing device 2a, each client device 4
changes the server device 3 to access when performing user
authentication, to the image processing device 2a. Thereafter, when
using the server function expanded in the image processing device
2a, each client device 4 accesses the image processing device 2a
(process P6).
[0075] When receiving a processing request for the server function
from each client device 4, the image processing device 2a operates
the server function on the basis of the processing request and
provides the requested service (process P7). That is, since the
operation of the basic function is in a restricted state, the image
processing device 2a receives the processing request from each
client device 4 on behalf of other server devices 3 and provides
the service by the server function.
[0076] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the
image processing device 2a provides the service by the server
function on behalf of other server devices 3. When the image
processing device 2a notifies each client device 4 that the server
function has been extended, each client device 4 accesses the image
processing device 2a when using the server function after the
notification, as illustrated in FIG. 8. That is, the image
processing device 2a receives the processing requests from the
client devices 2g to 2m, which the image processing device 2a does
not receive in the normal operation state, and provides the service
by the server function. At this time, the image processing device
2a has the expanded server function and has the raised processing
efficiency, as compared with the other server devices 3, and thus
can provide the service without stress even if the processing
requests from the client devices 4 flock into the image processing
device 2a.
[0077] Referring back to FIG. 7, when the image processing device
2a detects restoration from the failure or the power saving mode
(process P5), the image processing device 2a notifies all the image
processing devices 2d to 2m as the client devices 4 that the basic
function is to be restored (process P9). With the notification,
each client device 4 can grasp that the improved state of the
processing efficiency of the server function is to be terminated in
the image processing device 2a. Further, the image processing
device 2a performs restoration processing of restoring the basic
function (process P10) with the notification to the client devices
4. With the restoration processing, the basic function is restored
to the original state in the image processing device 2a. Further,
when receiving the notification from the image processing device
2a, each client device 4 changes the access destination again
(process P11). With the change, the access destination that each
client device 4 accesses to use the server function is changed to
the predetermined access destination, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0078] Further, the controller 20 predicts a restoration time
required to restore the basic function when the basic function
becomes inoperable due to the occurrence of a failure or the
transition to the power saving mode, and may receive the processing
request from the client device 4, which the image processing device
2a does not receive in the normal operation state, on the condition
that the processing of the expanded server function can be
completed by the restoration time required. To perform such
discrimination processing, the controller 20 includes the
restoration predictor 35, the processing time predictor 36, and the
processing discriminator 37.
[0079] The restoration predictor 35 is a processor that predicts
the restoration time required for restoration from the failure or
the power saving mode in the case where the occurrence of the
failure related to the basic function or the transition to the
power saving mode has been detected by the detector 31. The
restoration predictor 35 identifies the factor why the basic
function has become inoperable on the basis of a detection result
of the detector 31, and predicts the restoration time required on
the basis of the factor. More specifically, the restoration
predictor 35 reads the prediction information 9 stored in the
storage 11, and predicts the restoration time required on the basis
of the prediction information 9.
[0080] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
prediction information 9. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the prediction
information 9 is table information in which detection content
detected by the detector 31 and the restoration time required
defined according to the detection content are associated with each
other. In the case where the detection content by the detector 31
is failure detection, the restoration time required is defined for
each failure factor in the prediction information 9. Note that the
restoration time required defined in the prediction information 9
is a time set in advance by an administrator of the server device
3, for example. When the occurrence of the failure related to the
basic function or the transition to the power saving mode has been
detected by the detector 31, the restoration predictor 35 can
predict the restoration time required for restoration of the
inoperable basic function by reference to the prediction
information 9 on the basis of the detection result.
[0081] The processing time predictor 36 is a processor that
predicts a processing time in the expanded server function in the
case where one processing request is received from the client
device 4 in the state where the server function is expanded. For
example, in the case where the authentication function is
additionally assigned and expanded in the server device 3, the
processing time predictor 36 predicts the processing time required
to obtain an authentication result when the user authentication is
performed on the basis of one authentication request. Therefore,
the processing time predicted by the processing time predictor 36
is shorter than a processing time required when the server device 3
has received the processing request from the client device 4 in the
normal operation state.
[0082] The processing discriminator 37 functions when receiving the
processing request for use of the extended server function from the
client device 4 in the state where the server function is expanded.
Then, the processing discriminator 37 compares the processing time
predicted by the processing time predictor 36 and the restoration
time required predicted by the restoration predictor 35. More
specifically, the processing discriminator 37 compares the
processing time required to complete the processing when the
processing related to the expanded server function is started, and
a remaining time of the restoration time required for restoration
from the failure or the power saving mode at timing when receiving
the processing request from the client device 4. Then, the
processing discriminator 37 receives the processing request from
the client device 4 and operates the server function on the
condition that the processing time by the expanded server function
is shorter than the remaining time of the restoration time
required. In other words, the processing discriminator 37 does not
receive the processing request from the client device 4 and
transmits a notification to reject the processing request to the
client device 4, when the processing time by the expanded server
function is longer than the remaining time of the restoration time
required.
[0083] That is, the processing discriminator 37 receives the
request and operates the server function in the case where the
processing based on the request from the client device 4 can be
completed during a period in which the server function is expanded
whereas the processing discriminator 37 does not receive the
request in the case where the processing based on the request from
the client device 4 cannot be completed during the period in which
the server function is expanded. Thereby, the processing requests
from a large number of client devices 4 can be prevented from
staying and remaining when the server device 3 is restored from the
failure. As a result, a load to the server function can be
prevented from becoming extremely excessive after the restoration
from the failure. In the case where the client device 4 receives
the notification to reject the processing request from the server
device 3, the client device 4 may just change the access
destination and access a different server device 3.
[0084] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in the case where a failure has occurred in a plurality of
server devices 3. Note that FIG. 10 illustrates a case in which
failures sequentially occur in the image processing devices 2a and
2b that are the server devices 3, as an example. First, when the
image processing device 2a has detected occurrence of the failure
in the basic function (process P20), the image processing device 2a
releases the hardware resource to which the basic function has been
assigned (process P21), and additionally assigns the server
function to the released hardware resource to expand the server
function (process P22). At this time, in the case where the failure
that has occurred in the image processing device 2a is toner empty,
the image processing device 2a predicts that the restoration time
required is 300 seconds and starts a counting operation of the
restoration time required. Then, the image processing device 2a
notifies all the image processing devices 2d to 2m as the client
devices 4 that the server function has been expanded, with the
expansion of the server function (process P23). Each client device
4 grasps that the server function has been expanded in the image
processing device 2a when receiving the notification from the image
processing device 2a. Then, each client device 4 changes the access
destination of when using the server function expanded in the image
processing device 2a (process P24).
[0085] Next, when the image processing device 2b has detected the
occurrence of the failure in the basic function (process P25), the
image processing device 2b releases the hardware resource to which
the basic function has been assigned (process P26), and
additionally assigns the server function to the released hardware
resource to expand the server function (process P27). At this time,
in the case where the failure that has occurred in the image
processing device 2b is a paper jam in the scanner, the image
processing device 2b predicts that the restoration time required is
20 seconds and starts a counting operation of the restoration time
required. Then, the image processing device 2b notifies all the
image processing devices 2d to 2m as the client devices 4 that the
server function has been expanded, with the expansion of the server
function (process P28). Each client device 4 grasps that the server
function has been expanded in the image processing device 2b when
receiving the notification from the image processing device 2b.
Then, each client device 4 changes the access destination of when
using the server function expanded in the image processing device
2b (process P29). For example, in the case where the same
authentication function has been expanded in both the image
processing devices 2a and 2b, each client device 4 changes the
access destination of when using the authentication function to the
image processing device 2b on the basis of the notification from
the image processing device 2b.
[0086] Then, when using the authentication function expanded in the
image processing devices 2a and 2b, each client device 4 accesses
the image processing device 2b and transmits the authentication
request to the image processing device 2b (process P30). When
receiving the authentication request from the client device 4, the
image processing device 2b discriminates whether the user
authentication can be completed before the restoration from the
failure (process P31). As a result, in the case where the image
processing device 2b discriminates that the user authentication
cannot be completed before the elapse of the restoration time
required, the image processing device 2b transmits the notification
to reject the authentication request to the client device 4
(process P32). When receiving the rejection notification from the
image processing device 2b, the client device 4 changes the access
destination to the image processing device 2a. That is, the client
device 4 returns the state to the state before changing the access
destination in process P29. Then, the client device 4 accesses the
image processing device 2b and transmits the authentication request
to the image processing device 2b (process P33).
[0087] When receiving the authentication request from the client
device 4, the image processing device 2a discriminates whether the
user authentication can be completed before the restoration from
the failure, similarly to the image processing device 2b. Then, in
the case where the image processing device 2a discriminates that
the user authentication can be completed before the elapse of the
restoration time required, the image processing device 2a performs
the user authentication on the basis of the authentication request
from the client device 4 and provides the service to the client
device 4 (process P34).
[0088] FIG. 10 illustrates the case where the failure has occurred
in the two image processing devices 2a and 2b, as an example. In
contrast, in the case where the failure has occurred only in the
image processing device 2b, the client device 4 accesses the access
destination determined in advance in the client device 4 when
receiving the rejection notification from the image processing
device 2b.
[0089] Next, a processing procedure performed in the server device
3 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example
of a processing procedure performed in the server device 3. This
processing is performed as the CPU of the controller 20 executes
the program 7. When starting the processing, the server device 3
determines whether the operation state is the normal operation
state (step S10). As a result, in the case where the operation
state is the normal operation state (YES in step S10), the server
device 3 determines whether transitioning the power mode to the
power saving mode (step S11). In the case of not transitioning the
power mode to the power saving mode (NO in step S1), the server
device 3 further determines whether a failure has occurred (step
S12). In the case of transitioning the power mode to the power
saving mode (YES in step S11) or in the case where the failure has
occurred (YES in step S12), the server device 3 identifies the
basic function that becomes inoperable due to the transition to the
power saving mode or the occurrence of the failure, and releases
the hardware resource to which the basic function has been assigned
(step S13). Then, the server device 3 additionally assigns the
server function to the released portion of the hardware resource to
expand the server function (step S14). Then, the server device 3
notifies the client device 4 connected to the network 5 that the
server function has been expanded (step S15). At this time, other
server devices 3 are also notified that the server function has
been expanded. Further, the server device 3 predicts the
restoration time required on the basis of the factor why the basic
function becomes inoperable (step S16). In the case where the
operation state of the server device 3 is not the normal operation
state (NO in step S10), or in the case where no failure has
occurred in the server device 3 (NO in step S12), the server device
3 skips steps S13 to S16 described above.
[0090] Next, the server device 3 determines whether having detected
the access from the client device 4 (step S17). In the case where
the server device 3 has received the access from the client device
4 (YES in step S17), the server device 3 further determines whether
the server function is in expansion (step S18). As a result, in the
case where the server function is in expansion (YES in step S18),
the server device 3 identifies the processing content by the server
function on the basis of the processing request from the client
device 4 (step S19). The server device 3 predicts the processing
time on the basis of the identified processing content (step S20),
and compares the processing tine with the remaining time before the
elapse of the restoration time required to determine whether
receiving the processing request from the client device 4 (step
S21). The server device 3 receives the processing request in the
case where the server device 3 can complete the processing based on
the processing request from the client device 4 before the elapse
of the restoration time required (YES in step S21), and operates
the server function and provides the service (step S22). On the
other hand, the server device 3 does not receive the processing
request in the case where the server device 3 cannot complete the
processing based on the processing request from the client device 4
before the elapse of the restoration time required (NO in step
S21), the server device 3 transmits the rejection notification to
the client device 4 (step S23). In the case where the server device
3 has not detected the access from the client device 4 (NO in step
S17), the server device 3 skips steps S18 to S23 described above.
In the case where the server function is not being expanded when
the server device 3 has detected the access (NO in step S18), the
server device 3 receives the processing request from the client
device 4 as usual, and operates the server function and provides
the service (step S22).
[0091] Next, the server device 3 determines whether the server
function is in expansion (step S24). In the case where the server
function is in expansion (YES in step S24), the server device 3
further determines whether restoration from the power saving mode
or the failure has been detected (step S25). As a result, in the
case where the restoration has been detected (YES in step S25), the
server device 3 performs the restoration processing to return the
assigned states of the basic function and the server function to
the hardware resources to the original states (step S26). Then, the
server device 3 notifies the client devices 4 that the expanded
state of the server function has ended (step S27). At this time,
the server device 3 notifies other server devices 3 that the
expanded state of the server function has ended. In the case where
the server function is not expanded (NO in step S24), or in the
case where the restoration from the power saving mode or the
failure has not been detected (NO in step S25), the server device 3
skips steps S26 and S27 described above.
[0092] The server device 3 can expand the server function and
improve the processing efficiency by the server function when the
transition to the power saving mode has been detected or when the
occurrence of the failure has been detected by repeatedly executing
the above processing. Then, the server function can continue the
improved state of the processing efficiency of the server function
until the restoration from the power saving mode or the failure is
detected.
[0093] Next, a processing procedure performed in the client device
4 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example
of a processing procedure performed in the client device 4. This
processing is performed as the CPU of the control unit 10 of the
client device 4 executes the program 7. When starting the
processing, the client device 4 determines whether having received
the notification notifying that the function has been expanded in
the server device 3 (step S30). In the case where the client device
4 has received the notification (step S30), the client device 4
changes the access destination of when using the expanded server
function to the server device 3 that is the notification source
(step S31). In the case where the client device 4 has not received
the notification from the server device 3 (NO in step S30), the
client device 4 does not change the access destination.
[0094] Next, the client device 4 determines whether using the
server function (step S32). In the case of using the server
function (YES in step S32), the client device 4 confirms the access
destination according to which function of the server functions in
the server device 3 is to be used (step S33), and accesses the
server device 3 (step S34). At tins time, if there is the server
device 3 with the expanded server function, the client device 4
preferentially accesses the server device 3 with the expanded
server function. When having accessed the server device 3, the
client device 4 determines whether the access has succeeded (step
S35). That is, the client device 4 determines that the access has
succeeded when not receiving the rejection notification from the
server device 3 at access destination, and determines that the
access has failed when receiving the rejection notification.
[0095] In the case where the access to the server device 3 has
failed (NO in step S35), the client device 4 changes the access
destination (step S36), and accesses the server device 3 at the
changed access destination (step S37). After that, the processing
by the client device 4 returns to step S35. On the other hand, in
the case where the access to the server device 3 has succeeded (YES
in step S35), the client device 4 uses the service provided by the
server device 3 (step S38). In the case where it is not the timing
to use the server function (NO in step S32), the client device 4
skips steps S33 to S38 described above.
[0096] Next, the client device 4 determines whether having received
the restoration notification from the server device 3 (step S39),
and in the case of having received the restoration notification
(YES in step S39), the client device 4 changes the access
destination again and returns the access destination to the
original access destination (step S40).
[0097] The client device 4 changes the access destination of the
server device 3 to a priority access destination when the server
function is expanded in the server device 3 by repeatedly executing
the above processing, thereby to efficiently use the server
function.
[0098] Further, the restoration time required for the server device
3 to be restored from the failure or the power saving mode may be
predicted by the client device 4. In this case, when notifying the
client devices 4 of the server function, the server device 3
performs notification of the failure factor. Then each client
device 4 predicts the restoration time required in the server
device 3, similarly to the above description. After that, when
using the server function, the client device 4 compares the
restoration times required if the server function has been expanded
in two or more server devices 3, and accesses the server device 3
with the longest restoration time required. As a result, the client
device 4 can transmit a request to the server device 3 that
continues the expanded state of the server function for the longest
period of time, thereby to efficiently use the service.
Second Embodiment
[0099] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described. In the present embodiment, an embodiment in which one of
a plurality of server devices 3 serves as a representative device
and distributes processing requests from client devices 4 to the
plurality of server devices 3 will be described.
[0100] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration concept of
an image processing system 1 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 illustrates a case where an image processing device 2b is
operated as a representative device of the server devices 3, as an
example. As illustrated in FIG. 13, when a failure or the like has
occurred in the image processing devices 2a and 2b as the server
devices 3 and a server function has been expanded, the image
processing devices 2a and 2b notify the image processing device 2b
as the representative device that the server function has been
expanded. That is, notifications notifying that the server function
has been expanded in other server devices 3 are put into the image
processing device 2b as the representative device. Then, the image
processing device 2b as the representative device grasps the
expanded function in other server devices 3, and notifies client
devices 4 of an access destination of when using the server
function. That is, each server device 3 performs notification to
each client device 4 via the representative device.
[0101] The image processing device 2b may notify each client device
4 of the access destination at timing when the server function has
been expanded in any of the plurality of server devices 3 or may
performs notification of the access destination at timing when
receiving a processing request from each client device 4. In the
present embodiment, the latter case will be described as an
example.
[0102] Next, a configuration example of a control unit 10 in the
image processing devices 2b (server device 3) that function as the
representative device will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram
illustrating a configuration example of the control unit 10 of the
image processing devices 2a. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the control
unit 10 of the image processing device 2b includes a controller 20,
a plurality of CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d, and a memory 22,
similarly to the first embodiment. Then, the controller 20 assigns
basic functions and server functions to the plurality of CPUs 21a,
21b, 21c, and 21d and the memory 22 in a normal operation state,
similarly to the first embodiment.
[0103] The controller 20 of the present embodiment functions as an
access destination determiner 38 and an access destination
instructor 39 in addition to the configuration described in the
first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 14, as processing based on
a program 7 is performed by a CPU. Hereinafter, the access
destination determiner 38 and the access destination instructor 39
will be described in detail.
[0104] The access destination determiner 38 analyzes a factor why
the server function has been expanded with reception of an
expansion notification notifying that the server function has been
expanded from other server devices 3, and determines the priority
of the server devices 3 as transmission sources of the expansion
notification. Further, when the access destination determiner 38
has determined the priority of the server devices 3 as the
transmission sources of the expansion notification, the access
destination determiner 38 determines a priority access destination
that each client device 4 preferentially accesses, from among the
plurality of server devices 3 on the basis of the priority.
Specifically, the access destination determiner 38 determines the
priority of the server devices 3 as the transmission sources by
reference to access destination discrimination information 41
illustrated in FIG. 15, for example, and determines the priority
access destination of the client device 4. That is, as illustrated
in FIG. 15, the access destination discrimination information 41 is
table information in which the factor why the server function has
been expanded and the priority are associated with each other.
Therefore, the access destination determiner 38 can determine the
priority of the server devices 3 as the transmission sources of the
expansion notification by reference to the access destination
discrimination information 41 by specifying the factor why the
server function has been expanded. Then, the access destination
determiner 38 determines the server device 3 with the highest
priority, of the plurality of server devices 3, as the priority
access destination. Note that the access destination discrimination
information 41 is correlated with the above-described prediction
information 9, and is set in advance such that the priority becomes
higher as a restoration time required for restoration from a power
saving mode or a failure becomes longer. Further, the access
destination discrimination information 41 is stored in advance in a
storage 11, for example.
[0105] Further, the access destination determiner 38 also functions
in the case where the server function of the server device has been
expanded, and analyzes the factor why the server function of the
server device has been expanded and determines the priority of the
server device. Then, the access destination determiner 38 compares
the priority of the server device and the priorities of other
server devices 3, and determines one priority access
destination.
[0106] By the way, in the case where the server function has not
been expanded in each of the plurality of server devices 3, the
priorities of the plurality of server devices 3 are equal. In such
a case, the access destination determiner 38 determines the
priority access destination such that the processing requests from
the client devices 4 are distributed to the plurality of server
devices 3.
[0107] The access destination instructor 39 operates in the case of
receiving a processing request from the client device 4. Then, the
access destination instructor 39 instructs the client device 4 on
the priority access destination determined by the access
destination determiner 38. In the case where the server device is
the priority access destination, the access destination instructor
39 operates the server function of the server device on the basis
of the processing request from the client device 4.
[0108] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in the image processing system 1 of the present embodiment.
Note that FIG. 16 illustrates a case in which failures sequentially
occur in the image processing devices 2a and 2c that are the server
devices 3, as an example. First when the image processing device 2a
has detected occurrence of the failure in a basic function, the
image processing device 2a releases a hardware resource to which
the basic function has been assigned, and additionally assigns a
server function to the released hardware resource to expand the
server function. With the expansion, the image processing device 2a
transmits a notification notifying that the server function has
been expanded to the image processing device 3b as the
representative device (process P40). Then, when the failure has
occurred in the basic function in the image processing device 2b,
the image processing device 2b expands the server function and
transmits the notification notifying that the server function has
been expanded to the image processing device 3b as the
representative device, similarly to the above description (process
P41).
[0109] When receiving the notifications notifying that the server
function has been expanded from the image processing devices 2a and
2b, the image processing device 2b as the representative device
determines the priorities of the image processing devices 2a and
2b, and determines the priority access destination to be
preferentially accessed by the client device 4 (process P42). For
example, in the case where the image processing device 2a in which
the server function has been expanded prior to the image processing
device 2b in which the server function has been expanded continues
the expanded state of the server function for a longer period of
time, the image processing device 2b determines the image
processing device 2a as the priority access destination.
[0110] Meanwhile, the image processing device 2m as the client
device 4 first accesses the image processing device 2b as the
representative device when using the server function (process P43).
When detecting the access from the image processing device 2m, the
image processing device 2b confirms the priority access
destination. Then, in the case where the image processing device 2b
is not the priority access destination, the image processing device
2b notifies the image processing device 2m of the priority access
destination (process P44). For example, in the case where the
priority access destination is the image processing device 2a, the
image processing device 2b notifies the image processing device 2m
that the image processing device 2m should access the image
processing device 2a. The image processing device 2m accesses the
image processing device 2a on the basis of the notification from
the image processing device 2b as the representative device
(process P45). Then, the image processing device 2a operates the
server function and provides a service on the basis of a processing
request from the image processing device 2m (process P46).
[0111] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure performed in the image processing device 2b as
the representative device. The image processing device 2b
determines whether having received the expansion notifications
notifying that the server function has been expanded from other
server devices 3 (step S50). In the case of having received the
expansion notifications (YES in step S50), the image processing
device 2b discriminates a function expansion factor (step S51), and
determines the priorities of the server devices 3 as the
transmission sources of the expansion notifications (step S52). In
the case of having not received the expansion notifications from
other server devices 3 (NO in step S50), the image processing
device 2b skips the processing of steps S51 and S52.
[0112] Next, the image processing device 2b determines whether the
server function of the image processing device 2b has been expanded
(step S53). In the case where the server function of the image
processing device 2b has been expanded (YES in step S53), the image
processing device 2b discriminates the function expansion factor
(step S54), and determines the priority of the image processing
device 2b (step S55). In the case where the server function of the
image processing device 2b has not been expanded (NO in step S53),
the image processing device 2b skips the processing of steps S54
and S55.
[0113] Next, the image processing device 2b determines whether
having detected the access from the client device 4 (step S56). In
the case of having detected the access (YES in step S56), the image
processing device 2b compares the priorities of the server devices
3 and discriminates whether there is a server device 3 with a
higher priority than the image processing device 2b (step S57). As
a result, in the case where there is no server device 3 with a
higher priority than the image processing device 2b (NO in step
S57), the image processing device 2b operates the server function
on the basis of the processing request from the client device 4 and
provides the service (step S58). On the other hand, in the case
where the server device 3 with a higher priority than the image
processing device 2b is determined as the priority access
destination (YES in step S57), the image processing device 2b
notifies the client device 4 as the access source of the priority
access destination (step S59). With the notification, the client
device 4 accesses the priority access destination and uses the
server function. In the case of having not detected the access from
the client device 4 (NO in step S56), the image processing device
2b skips steps S57 to S59 described above.
[0114] Next, the image processing device 2b determines whether
having received the restoration notification notifying that the
basic function is restored from another server device 3 (step S60).
When having received the restoration notification (YES in step
S60), the image processing device 2b changes and returns the
priority of the server device 3 as the transmission source of the
restoration notification (step S61). In the case of having not
received the restoration notification (NO in step S60), the
processing of step S61 is not performed.
[0115] Next, the image processing device 2b determines whether the
basic function of the image processing device 2b has been restored
(step S62). When the basic function of the image processing device
2b has been restored (YES in step S62), the image processing device
2b changes and returns the priority of the image processing device
2b (step S63). In the case where the basic function of the image
processing device 2b has not been restored (NO in step S62), the
processing of step S63 is not performed.
[0116] The image processing device 2b can make the priority of the
server device 3 high when the server function of any of the server
devices 3 is expanded, and can set the server device 3 to the
priority access destination of when each client device 4 use the
server function, by repeatedly executing the above processing.
Then, the client device 4 accesses the image processing device 2b
as the representative device in using the server function,
notification of the priority access destination is performed.
Therefore, the client device 4 can access the server device 3 in
which the client device 4 can most efficiently use the service.
Further, when the basic function is restored in the server device 3
with the expanded server function, the image processing device 2b
returns the priority of the server device 3 to the original state.
Therefore, flocking of the processing requests from the client
devices 4 into the server device 3 with a restored basic function
can be suppressed.
[0117] Note that matters other than the points described in the
present embodiment are similar to those described in the first
embodiment.
Third Embodiment
[0118] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described. In the present embodiment, a case in which a plurality
of server devices 3 expands different functions from one another in
the case of sequentially expanding server functions will be
described.
[0119] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation
process in an image processing system 1 of the present embodiment.
FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which server functions are
expanded in the order of image processing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c
that are server devices 3. First, when having detected a failure
related to a basic function (process P50), an image processing
device 2a releases a hardware resource to which the basic function
has been assigned (process P51), and additionally assigns a server
function to the hardware resource in an empty state (process P52).
At this time, the image processing device 2a additionally assigns a
default server function (for example, an authentication function)
to the hardware resource to enable efficient authentication
processing. When having expanded the authentication function, the
image processing device 2a notifies the other image processing
devices 2b and 2c that the authentication function has been
expanded (process P53). With the notification, the other image
processing devices 2b and 2c can grasp that the authentication
function has been expanded in the image processing device 2a.
Further, the notification in process P53 is transmitted not only to
the server devices 3 but also to client devices 4. Therefore, each
client device 4 can grasp that the authentication function has been
expanded in the image processing device 2a.
[0120] First, when having detected a failure related to a basic
function (process P54), the image processing device 2b releases a
hardware resource to which the basic function has been assigned
(process P55), and additionally assigns a server function to the
hardware resource in an empty state (process P56). At this time,
the image processing device 2b expands a function different from
the authentication function expanded in the image processing device
2a. FIG. 18 illustrates a case in which an OCR function is expanded
in the image processing device 2b. Therefore, the image processing
device 2b becomes able to efficiently perform OCR processing
corresponding to the OCR function. When having expanded the OCR
function, the image processing device 2b notifies the other image
processing devices 2a and 2c that the OCR function has been
expanded (process P57). With the notification, the other image
processing devices 2a and 2c can grasp that the OCR function has
been expanded in the image processing device 2b. Further, the
notification in process P57 is transmitted not only to the server
devices 3 but also to client devices 4. Therefore, each client
device 4 can grasp that the OCR function has been expanded in the
image processing device 2b.
[0121] Thereafter, when having detected a failure related to a
basic function (process P58), the image processing device 2c
releases a hardware resource to which the basic function has been
assigned (process P59), and additionally assigns a server function
to the hardware resource in an empty state (process P60). At this
time, the image processing device 2c expands a function different
from the authentication function expanded in the image processing
device 2a and the OCR function expanded in the image processing
device 2b. FIG. 18 illustrates a case in which a translation
function is expanded in the image processing device 2c. Therefore,
the image processing device 2c becomes able to efficiently perform
translation processing corresponding to the translation function.
When having expanded the translation function, the image processing
device 2c notifies the client devices 4 that the translation
function has been expanded.
[0122] Therefore, when each client device 4 uses the server device
3 afterward, each client device 4 can select and access one server
device 3 in which the processing can be most efficiently performed
according to which of the plurality of server functions is to be
used. For example, when using the authentication function, the
client device 4 may just access the image processing device 2a.
When using the OCR function, the client device 4 may just access
the image processing device 2b. Further, when using the translation
function, the client device 4 may just access the image processing
device 2c.
[0123] Next, a processing procedure performed in the server device
3 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a
flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the
server device 3. When starting the processing, the server device 3
determines whether expanding the server function (step S70). When
expanding the server function due to occurrence of a failure in the
basic function (YES in step S70), the server device 3 determines
whether there is a server device 3 with an expanded server function
other than server device 3 (step S71).
[0124] In the case where there is no server device 3 with an
expanded server function other than the server device 3 (NO in step
S71), the server device 3 selects a default predetermined server
function as an expansion target (step S72). For example, when the
authentication function is set as the default server function, the
server device 3 selects the authentication function as an extension
target.
[0125] On the other hand, in the case where another server device 3
with an expanded server function has already existed other than the
server device 3 (YES in step S71), the server device 3
discriminates the expanded function in the other server device 3
(step S73), and determines the server function to be expanded in
the server device 3 not to overlap with the server function in the
other server device 3 (step S74). At this time, the server device 3
may select one function on the basis of a priority order.
[0126] Then, the server device 3 expands the function selected in
step S72 or S74 (step S75). That is, the server device 3 releases
the basic function and additionally assigns the function selected
in step S72 or S74 to the hardware resource in the empty state to
expand the server function. Thereafter, the server device 3
notifies the other server devices 3 and the client devices 4 that
the server function has been expanded. In the case where no
expansion of the server function is determined in step S70, the
above processing of steps S71 to S75 is not performed.
[0127] The server device 3 can expand the function different from
the function expanded in another server device 3 when expanding the
server function by repeatedly executing the above processing.
Therefore, when using the server function, the client device 4 can
select the server device 3 that can most efficiently operate the
server function to be used by the client device 4.
[0128] Note that matters other than the points described in the
present embodiment are similar to those described in the first
embodiment. Also in the present embodiment, one of the plurality of
server devices 3 may serve as a representative device and notify
the client device 4, as described in the second embodiment.
Fourth Embodiment
[0129] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be
described. In the present embodiment, a log collection function
that is one of server functions will be described in detail. The
log collection function is a function in which each server device 3
collects log information from a predetermined client device 4. In
the case where a plurality of server devices 3 is provided in an
image processing system 1, the log collection function has a
function in which one of the plurality of server devices 3 serves
as a representative device and transmits log information collected
from the server devices 3 to a cloud server.
[0130] FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing an example of a server
function related to the log collection function. FIG. 20
illustrates a case where an image processing device 2b is operated
as a representative device, as an example. Image processing devices
2a, 2b, and 2c that are the server devices 3 collect log
information from predetermined client devices 4. Then, the image
processing device 2b as the representative device acquires log
information 52 from the image processing device 2a and acquires log
information 53 from the image processing device 2c at predetermined
timing. Thereafter, the image processing device 2b generates log
information 54 that is bound log information 52 and 53 and log
information collected by the image processing device 2b, and
transmits the log information 54 to a cloud server 51.
[0131] In such a situation, when a failure occurs in a basic
function in the image processing device 2a and a server function
related to the log collection function is expanded, the image
processing device 2a is operated as the representative device on
behalf of the image processing device 2b. That is, in the image
processing device 2a, when occurrence of a failure or transition to
a power saving mode has been detected by a detector 31, and a
hardware resource is released by a hardware resource releaser 32, a
server function expander 33 described above assigns the function as
the representative device, that is, the function to collect the log
information from the other image processing devices 2b and 2c and
transmit the log information to the cloud server 51 to the released
hardware resource.
[0132] FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing an example in which the
image processing device 2a is operated as the representative
device. When the image processing device 2a is operated as the
representative device, the image processing device 2a monitors
timing to transmit the log information to the cloud server 51. Even
in the case where the image processing device 2a is operated as the
representative device, the point to collect the log information
from a predetermined client device 4 at predetermined timing is
unchanged. Then, when having detected the timing to transmit the
log information to the cloud server 51, the image processing device
2a acquires the log information 53 from the image processing device
2c and log information 55 from the image processing device 2b.
Then, the image processing device 2a generates the log information
54 that is the bound log information 53 and 55 collected from the
image processing devices 2b and 2c and log information collected
from the image processing device 2b, and transmits the log
information 54 to the cloud server 51. That is, the image
processing device 2a is operated as the representative device on
behalf of the image processing device 2b because of the expanded
log collection function, thereby to more efficiently transmit the
log information 54 to the cloud server 51 than the image processing
device 2b.
[0133] FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
processing procedure in the server device 3 according to the
present embodiment. When starting the processing, the server device
3 determines whether the server function has been expanded due to
the occurrence of a failure or the transition to a power saving
mode (step S80). In the case where the server function has been
expanded (YES in step S80), the server device 3 determines whether
the log collection function has been expanded (step S81). In the
case where the log collection function has been expanded (YES in
step S81), the server device 3 determines whether there is another
representative device that uploads log information to the cloud
server 51 (step S82). As a result, in the case where another server
device 3 is operated as the representative device (YES in step
S82), the server device 3 notifies the other server device 3 that
the server device 3 becomes the representative device (step S83).
With the notification, the former representative device stops the
operation as the representative device. Further, the other server
device 3 transmits the log information collected from the client
device 4 to the server device 3 that has newly become the
representative device on the basis of a request from the server
device 3 that has newly become the representative device. Then, the
server device 3 operates the expanded log collection function as
the representative device (step S84). In the case where the server
device 3 has not expanded the log collection function (NO in step
S80 or S81), or in the case where there is no other representative
devices (NO in step S82), the server device 3 skips the processing
of steps S83 and S84.
[0134] Next, the server device 3 determines whether the basic
function of the server device 3 has been restored (step S85). In
the case where the basic function of the server device 3 has been
restored (YES in step S85), the server device 3 notifies other
server devices 3 that the server device 3 becomes no longer the
representative device (step S86). With the notification, the
original server device 3 set as the representative device becomes
operated as the representative device again. In the case where the
basic function of the server device 3 has not been restored (NO in
step S85), the processing of step S86 is skipped.
[0135] When the server device 3 expands the log collection
function, of the server functions, the server device 3 becomes
operated as the representative device, and can efficiently perform
processing of uploading the log information 54 to the cloud server
51, by repeatedly performing the above processing.
[0136] Note that matters other than the points described in the
present embodiment are similar to those described in the first to
third embodiments.
[0137] (Modification)
[0138] Several embodiments regarding the present invention have
been described. However, the present invention is not limited to
the contents described in the above embodiments, and various
modifications are applicable.
[0139] For example, in the above embodiment, the case in which the
plurality of CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d is provided in the control
unit 10 of the server device 3, and the basic functions and the
server functions are distributed and assigned to the plurality of
CPUs 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d in the normal operation state has been
described. However, the control unit 10 of the server device 3 does
not necessarily include a plurality of CPUs, and may be constituted
by one CPU. In this case, the basic functions and the server
functions are assigned to the one CPU, and processing based on the
functions is performed by the one CPU. Then when the basic function
becomes inoperable due to occurrence of a failure or transition to
a power saving mode, processing related to the basic function is
released from the CPU and processing related to the server function
may just be additionally performed in the CPU.
[0140] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case in
which the plurality of server device 3 is provided in the image
processing system 1 has been described as an example. However, an
embodiment is not limited to the case. That is, at least one server
device 3 is provided in the image processing system 1.
[0141] Although embodiments of the present invention have been
described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are
made for purposes of illustration and example only and not
limitation. The scope of the present invention should be
interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
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